HPG MEN INTERCEPT P10M SMUGGLED ‘HOT MEAT’’ FROM BRAZIL 

BY KEVIN GALANG

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Operatives of the Highway Patrol Group arrested eight persons and impounded three Isuzu refrigerated vans containing P10 million worth of smuggled meat from Brazil.

Prior to the confiscation of the alleged “hot meat,” personnel of the  Regional Highway Patrol Unit 3 (RHPU3) were conducting an anti-carnapping and plate spotting operation last January 31 in Sta. Maria, Bulacan when they saw the three trucks whose drivers and passengers were not wearing seatbelts.

One of the trucks was also illegaly using blinkers.

When flagged down, lawmen learned that the driver of the truck, with plate no. CCB 7627, was not carrying the vehicle’s registration official receipt. The driver of the second truck (CBP 1065) failed to present the certificate of registration while the third vehicle (CBJ 5161) was found to be unregistered.

Lawmen asked the drivers what was in their refrigerated vans, they replied frozen boneless pork legs. When asked for documents from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), the three drivers and their five helpers failed to present any.

The RHPU3 said the truck, with plate no. CCB 7627, is registered to a certain Soloman Jover, the truck with plate no. CBJ 5161 is registered to one Gerardo Eleazar, while the owner of the third truck (CBP 1065) is being verified.

RHPU3 chief Col. Sally Mangacop, in a video interview, said that the “hot meat” came from Alee Rendering Facility in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

Authorities suspected that the “hot meat” could have been sold to Metro Manila if not intercepted.

The regional agency’s Investigation Section said the eight arrested persons were charged for violation of Presidential Decree 96 for non-wearing of seatbelts and for driving vehicles without valid registration documents.

NMIS Region 3 Director Isagani Julius Rodrigo told reporters that the seized meat products were destroyed on Monday at a waste management facility in San Jose Mitla in Porac, Pampanga.